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Religion on the Political Agenda

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Religious Complexity in the Public Sphere

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy ((PSRPP))

Abstract

This chapter asks whether the growing religious diversity has implied a shift in the role of religion in Nordic political opinions and debates. The analysis shows continued links between individual religiosity and political party preferences, although people in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have become more tolerant toward religious minorities. In political party platforms, Christianity and the majority churches are still used as references to national identity. There is a growing invocation of religion in parliamentary debates. Especially issues that are related to Islam and human rights have increased. Religion has become more diversified and contested in Nordic politics since the 1980s. The findings suggest a politicization of religion in a process of renegotiating social and cultural identities and values.

Section 4.1 is written by Mia Lövheim and Henrik Reintoft Christensen, with contributions from Pål Ketil Botvar and Jonas Lindberg. Section 4.2 is written by Pål Ketil Botvar and Kati Niemälä. Sections 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 are written by Jonas Lindberg. Mia Lövheim and Anders Bäckström drafted the conclusions in 4.6. Mia Lövheim has the overall editorial responsibility for the chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden

    Mia Lövheim, Jonas Lindberg & Anders Bäckström

  2. KIFO Institute for Church, Religion and Worldview Research, Oslo, Norway

    Pål Ketil Botvar

  3. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Henrik Reintoft Christensen

  4. University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Kati Niemelä

Authors
  1. Mia Lövheim
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  2. Jonas Lindberg
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  3. Pål Ketil Botvar
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  4. Henrik Reintoft Christensen
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  5. Kati Niemelä
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  6. Anders Bäckström
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institutt for sosiologi og samfunnsgeografi, Oslo, Norway

    Inger Furseth

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Lövheim, M., Lindberg, J., Botvar, P.K., Christensen, H.R., Niemelä, K., Bäckström, A. (2018). Religion on the Political Agenda. In: Furseth, I. (eds) Religious Complexity in the Public Sphere. Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55678-9_4

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